STRUCTURED CABLING SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

A structured cabling system is a complete system of cabling and associated hardware,

which provides a comprehensive telecommunications infrastructure. It is the wiring network that
carries all your data, voice, multimedia, security,VoIP, PoE, and even wireless connections
throughout your building or campus. It includes everything from the data center to the desktop,
including cabling, connecting hardware, equipment, telecommunications rooms, cable pathways,
work areas, and even the jacks on the wallplate in an office.
A structured cabling system is as important to the success of an organization as the people
are who work in it. A well-planned structured cabling system facilitates the continuous flow of
information, enables the sharing of resources, promotes smooth operations, accommodates everchanging technology, offers plenty of room for growth, and evolves with your organization. In
essence, a structured cabling system is the lifeblood of your organization. If done right, it will
serve the organization well for years. If not, the organizations growth and bottom line can suffer.

Planning Structured Cabling

The most important design considerations
Applications. Your system should support data, voice, video, and multimedia applications
now and well into the future. You should anticipate applications involving VoIP, PoE,
wireless, and security.
Life cycle. Plan on a life span of 1520 years, with 10 years as the minimum. Your
cabling system should have the longest life cycle of any component in your network.
Compare that to a network switch, which has an average life span of five years.
Compatibility. Your system should be based on open standards and be able to support
multiple applications regardless of the vendor. Modular, open standard systems enable
easy changes and easy expansion without changing the cabling and equipment.
Bandwidth. The demand for it just keeps growing. The more the better. Enough said.
Growth. Anticipate how many users youll need to support 10, 15, or even 20 years down
the road.
MACs (Moves, adds, and changes). Your network should facilitate and accommodate
frequent changes.

A structured cabling system thats smartly designed takes careful planning. Systems are
more complex now than ever, and will get even more so as speed and bandwidth demands

increase. The system planned today will be supporting new and different applications for many
years.
Other important design considerations:
Usage. When planning a network, consider peak loads of all applications, usage patterns,
type of traffic, and outlet density.
Future technology. In this business, change happens fast.
Location of users. Where are users and how far are they from the network switches?
Power over Ethernet. Consider where you may need to run power over your data lines.
Wireless access points. Plan on complete coverage.
VoIP. Voice over Internet Protocol is fast becoming the network type of choice.
Security. Plan on current and emerging data, network, and physical security systems,
including PoE and wireless applications.
Regulations. Abide the NEC. ANSI/TIA/EIA. State and local building codes.
Space. Consider available space for data centers, equipment, telecommunications rooms,
and cable runs.
Physical conditions. Consider any unusual physical constraints, such as power lines, EMI
influences, seismic activity, industrial activity, even being below water level.
Media. The type of cable you choose may depend on the applications, architecture,
environment, and more.
Redundancy. Consider whether you need duplicate pathways to run redundant backbones
for mission-critical applications.
Site survey. A comprehensive site survey should be done to identify users equipment,
locations, and regulations that require attention.
Maintenance. Consider whether youre going to use in-house technicians or a contracted
service.
Warranties. Most should cover the cabling components and the application the system
was designed to support.
Documentation. Doing it right the first time will make your life a whole lot easier in the
future.
Total cost. The lowest initial installation cost is not always the least expensive. The
greatest expenses after the original investment will be MACs and equipment upgrades.
Plan on replacing your electronic equipment three to four times over the life of the
cabling system. When all totaled, these ongoing costs can actually equal or exceed the
cost of the original investment. Also consider the quality of the installation. The lowest
bid may not necessarily be the best.

NETWORKING

The network that is used now and most likely, in the future will be some form of
Ethernet. Its the most common network type, and its the de facto standard in networking. Thus,
Ethernet Standards is presented.
When planning a network, think fast. Network technologies considered cutting edge only
a few years ago are now becoming viable options for network upgrades. The shift is to Gigabit
Ethernet, 10-GbE, SANs (storage area networks), and even 40+Gbps connections for enterprise
and data center backbones.

Network Topologies
There are three basic network topologies: star, ring, and bus.

Star. The star network features individual point-to-point cable runs radiating from a
central equipment room, which can house a PBX in voice networks or switches in data
networks. The advantage of a star network is that you can connect and disconnect
equipment without disrupting the rest of the network. The star network facilitates smooth
moves, adds, and changes. 10BASE-T and later versions of Ethernet use a star topology.
Ring. A ring topology links a series of devices in a continuous loop. A ring is a simple
network, but it has a few disadvantages. All the signals are passed from one device to the
next until they reach the intended station.
Bus. A bus topology consists of one continuous cable, commonly called the backbone
cable. Devices are connected along that cable, and information travels in a linear fashion
along the entire length of the bus. Devices can be removed from the bus without
disrupting the entire network. The original Ethernet topology was a bus.

STANDARDS

The importance of standards in todays structured cabling systems cant be

underestimated. A standards-based system provides a generic base for building a
communications infrastructure without compatibility worries. Standards establish technical
criteria and ensure uniform performance among network systems and components. They enable
building modular networks that can easily accommodate new technologies, equipment, and
users. Before 1985, there were no structured cabling standards. Phone companies used their own
cabling. Businesses generally used a vendors proprietary system. Eventually, the Computer
Communications Industry Association (CICIA) approached the Electronics Industries Alliance,
formerly Association, (EIA) about developing cabling standards, which they did. Discussions
centered around developing standards for voice, data, commercial, and residential cabling
systems. (The TIA was formed in April 1988 after a merger of the United States
Telecommunications Suppliers Association and the Information and Telecommunications
Technologies group of the EIA. Thus the TIA/EIA.)

In 1991, the TIA/EIA published its Commercial Building Telecommunications Wiring

Standard, TIA/EIA-568. It was the first standard to define a generic telecommunications system
that would support a multiproduct, multivendor environment. It enabled wiring systems to be
planned and installed without definite plans for telecommunications equipment installed later.
The standards committees meet and review standards every five years, and the issuance of TSB
(Technical Service Bulletins) is on-going. The TIA/EIA has issued a number of standards
covering everything from types of cabling, cabling installation, administration, and more. This
guide covers the most relevant standards to commercial buildings.

Standards Organization

Today, there are a number of organizations developing standards related to cabling and
communications.

Standards Organization
ANSI (American National Standards
Institute)
EIA (Electronics Industries Alliance)

TIA (Telecommunications Industry

Association)
ISO (International Organization for
Standardization)
IEC (International Electrotechnical
Commission)
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers, Inc.)

BICSI (Building Industry Consulting Service

International, Inc.)

Function
Coordinates and adopts national standards
in the U.S.
Accredited by ANSI to help develop
standards on electronics components,
telecommunications, Internet security, and
more
Provides standards development and
represents the communications sector of
EIA
The worlds largest developer of standards
Prepares and publishes international
standards for all electrical, electronic, and
related technologies.
Leading developer of industrial standards
in a broad range of disciplines, including
electric power, information technology,
information
assurance,
and
telecommunications
Supports the information transport systems
(ITS) industry with information, education,
and knowledge assessment

Key Standards

The Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard is covered in ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.1,

-B.2, and -B.3.

Key standards developed by ANSI/TIA/EIA for Structured Cabling System

ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.1
Part 1: General Requirements. This standard covers the general
requirements for planning, installing, and verifying structured cabling
systems in commercial buildings. It also establishes performance
parameters for cable channels and permanent link. One of the major
changes in this document from the earlier version is that it recognizes
CAT5e or higher cabling for the second data outlet.
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2
Part 2: Balanced Twisted-Pair Cabling Components. This standard
discusses balanced twisted-pair cabling components and transmission

ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1

ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.210 (Draft)
TSB-155
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.3
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.3-1
ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-B
ANSI/TIA/EIA-570-A
ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-A
ANSI/TIA-607
ANSI/TIA/EIA-758
ANSI/TIA/EIA-862
ANSI/TIA/EIA-942
TSB-1005
TSB-162

requirements.
Part 2, Addendum 1: 4-Pair, 100-Ohm Category 6 Transmission
Performance. This standard specifies components and transmission
requirements.
Augmented Category 6 Transmission Performance
Characterizing Existing Category 6 Cabling to Support 10-Gigabit
Ethernet.
Optical Fiber Cabling Components Standard
Additional Transmission Performance Specifications for 50/125 Optical
Fiber Cabling Systems
Commercial Building Standard for Pathways and Spaces
Residential Telecommunications Cabling Standard
Administration Standard for Telecommunications Infrastructure of
Commercial Buildings
Commercial Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for
Telecommunications
Customer Owned Outside Plant
Building Automation Systems Standard for Commercial Buildings
Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers
Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Industrial Premises
Telecommunications Cabling Guidelines for Wireless Access Points

Key standards developed by ISO for Structured Cabling System

ISO 11801:2002
Information TechnologyGeneric Cabling for
Customer Premises
ISO/IEC 11801, 2nd Ed.
Includes Class D, E, and F Cabling
ISO/IEC 11801, 2nd Ed. Amendment 1
Covers Class EA and FA.*
ISO 11801 Class Ea, Edition 2.1
10-Gigabit over Copper
ISO/IEC TR 24704
Information TechnologyCustomer Premises
Cabling for Wireless Access Points

Key standards developed by IEEE for Structured Cabling System

IEEE 802.3af
Power over Ethernet. (PoE)
IEEE 802.3at (draft)
Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE Plus)
IEEE 802.11
Wireless Networking
IEEE 802.3an
10GBASE-T 10 Gbps (1250 Mbps) Ethernet over
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP

CABLING

Cabling is one of the most important components of a network and is the most long-lived
with an expected life span of 1520 years. Network equipment will most likely be replaced three
to four times over the life of the cabling system. Plan on cabling to be about 15% of total
network cost. And dont skimp on the cable or the installation. An investment in a high-quality
cabling system is easily justified in reduced downtime, reduced maintenance, and better network
performance. Think long-term and buy the best cable and installation services.

Cabling considerations
Network application. The type of network that is planned to run will influence the cable
of choice.
Upgrades. Anticipate changes and upgrades in equipment and applications.
Life span. Expect 10 years minimum and 20 years maximum.
Distance. Review the maximum distance between your network switches and the farthest
desktop.
Cable routing. Consider bend radius and available space for running cables in the floor
and ceiling.
Fire risk. Abide by all regulations.
Existing cable. Is there existing or abandoned cable that needs to be removed?
EMI (electromagnetic interference).
Environment. Any physical limitations that could affect the cable of choice?

Choosing cable
When planning cabling infrastructure, there are two basic choices: copper or fiber. Both
offer superior data transmission. The decision on which one to use depends on the current
network, future networking needs, and the applications, including bandwidth, distances,
environment, cost, and more. Traditionally, copper was used in lower-speed, short-distance
networks, and fiber was used in higher-speed, long-distance networks. But with the advent of
copper cable running at 10-Gigabit rates, this maxim no longer holds true. But now, a mixed
network with a fiber backbone and copper horizontal cable is evident to be an optimum solution.

1. Copper cable
Some of the most obvious advantages copper offers is that its less expensive than fiber
cable and much easier to terminate in the field. Because copper is the most commonly
installed cable, there is a vast selection of connecting hardware and networking devices,
which are also less expensive than fiber equipment.

Unshielded twisted pair (UTP). This is the most widely used cable. Known as balanced
twisted pair, UTP consists of twisted pairs (usually four) in a PVC or plenum jacket.
Choose UTP for electrically quiet environments.

Shielded twisted pair (STP).This is twisted pair cabling with a shield. There are two
common shields: foil sheaths and copper braids.

Foiled/Unshielded Twisted Pair (F/UTP). Foil is

the most basic cable shield. Cables with an overall
foil shield surrounding all the pairs are called
F/UTP. These may also be called FTP cables.
Shielded Foiled Twisted Pair (S/FTP). This cable
features individual foil-shielded pairs and an outer
shield, which can be braided or foil. It offers the
best protection from external noise and ANEXT.
This cable was traditionally called Screened
Twisted Pair (ScTP or S/STP.

Copper cable conductors can be solid or stranded, whether

the cable is shielded or unshielded.

Solid-conductor. This cable is designed for both

backbone and horizontal cable runs. Use it for runs
between
equipment
rooms
or
from
the
telecommunications room to the wallplate. Solid
cable shouldnt be bent, flexed, or twisted. Its
attenuation is lower than that of stranded-conductor
cable.

Stranded-conductor. This cable is used primarily as a

patch cable between the outlet and desktop and
between patching equipment. Stranded-conductor
cable is more flexible than solid-core cable. However,
attenuation is higher, so the total length of a stranded
cable in your channel should be kept to 10 meters or
less to reduce signal degradation.

Copper Cable Standards

TIA/EIA-568B specifies several categories for both the components and the cable. The
ISO/IEC specifies categories for the components and classes for the cabling.

Category 3 (CAT3) cable is rated for networks operating up to 16 Mbps. It is suitable

for voice transmissions (not VoIP). ISO/IEC refers to the end-to-end channel as Class
C.
Category 4 cable is rated for transmission of 16 Mbps up to 100 meters. It is
considered obsolete.
Category 5 (CAT5) cable was common for 100-Mbps LANs. It was ratified in 1991
and is now considered obsolete.

From the early 2000s new structured cable installations were almost invariably built with the
higher performing Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable required by 100BASE-T.
Category

Maximum
Bandwidth

Network Supported

Cable
Constructio
n

5e

100MHz

100BASE-T

250MHz

1000BASE-T

6a

500MHz

10GBASE-T

7
7a

600MHz
1000MHz

10GBASE-T
10GBASE-T

Unshielded
or shielded
Unshielded
or shielded
Unshielded
or shielded
Shielded only
Shielded only

For the comparison of Categories and Classes:

Maximu
m
Channel
Length
100 meters
100 meters
100 meters
100 meters
100 meters

2. Fiber cable
Fiber optic technology uses light as an
information carrier. The cable consists of a core, a
single continuous strand of glass or plastic thats
measured in microns () by the size of its outer
diameter. This is the pathway for light rays carrying
data signals. Fiber is the preferred cable for
applications that require high bandwidth, long
distances, and immunity to electrical interference.
Its the most commonly installed backbone cable as
well.
Advantages of Fiber:
Greater bandwidth. Because fiber provides far greater bandwidth than copper and
has proven performance at rates up to 10 Gbps, it gives network designers futureproofing capabilities. Fiber can carry more information with greater fidelity than
copper.
Low attenuation and greater distance. Because the fiber optic signal is made of
light, very little signal loss occurs during transmission, and data can move at high
speeds and greater distances. Fiber distances can range from 300 meters (984.2
ft.) to 40 kilometers (24.8 mi.), depending on the style of cable, wavelength, and
network.
Security. Your data is safe with fiber. It doesnt radiate signals and is extremely
difficult to tap. If the cable is tapped, it leaks light causing failures.
Immunity. Fiber provides extremely reliable data transmission. Its completely
immune to many environmental factors that affect copper cable, such as EMI/RFI,
crosstalk, impedance, and more.
Design. Fiber is lightweight, thin, and more durable than copper cable. It has
pulling specifications that are up to 10 times greater than copper cable. Its small
size makes it easier to handle, and it takes up less space in cabling ducts.
Costs. Installation costs for fiber are higher than copper because of the skill
needed for termination. Overall, fiber is more expensive than copper in the short
run, but it may actually be less expensive in the long run. Fiber typically costs less
to maintain, has less downtime, and requires less networking hardware.
There are two types of fiber cable: multimode and single-mode. Most of the fiber cable
used within a building is multimode. Single-mode cable, with its higher performance, is more
commonly used in campus networks between buildings.

Multimode, 50- and 62.5-micron cable

Most of the fiber cable used within a building

is multimode. Multimode fiber cable can be
used for most general data and voice
applications. It comes in two core sizes: 50micron and 62.5-micron. Both 50- and 62.5micron cable feature the same cladding
diameter of 125 microns. LED and laser light
sources can also be used with both 50- and
62.5-micron cable. The big difference between
the two is that 50-micron cable provides longer
link lengths and/or higher speeds. Although
both can be used in the same way, 50-micron
cable is recommended for backbone,
horizontal, and intrabuilding connections, and
should be considered for any new construction
and installations

Single-mode, 810-micron cable

Single-mode
cable,
with
its
higher
performance, is more commonly used in
campus networks between buildings. It has a
small 810-micron glass core and only one
pathway of light. It provides 50 times more
distance than multimode cable. Consequently,
single-mode cable is typically used in longhaul network connections spread out over
extended areas, including cable television and
campus backbone applications. Telcos use it for
connections between switching offices.

STRUCTURED CABLING SYSTEM

Structured cabling is building or campus telecommunications cabling infrastructure that

consists of a number of standardized smaller elements (hence structured) called subsystems. A
structured cabling system, as defined by the TIA/EIA, consists of six subsections:

Backbone Cabling

Equipment Room (ER)

Entrance Facility (EF)

Horizontal Cabling

Work Area (WA)

Telecommunications Room (TR)

BACKBONE CABLING

The backbone cabling system provides interconnections between telecommunications

rooms, equipment rooms, main terminal space, and entrance facilities. It includes backbone
cables, intermediate and main cross-connects, mechanical terminations, and patch cords or
jumpers used for backbone-to-backbone cross-connections. The backbone also extends between
buildings in a campus environment.
Backbone cabling is specified in TIA/EIA-568-B.1and includes:
Cabling
Intermediate and main cross-connects
Mechanical terminations
Patch cords or jumpers for backbone-to-backbone connections
Planning Backbone Cabling
1. Performance and applications. Plan on far more bandwidth than you think youll ever
need.
2. Site size and user population. Current size and future growth requirements must be
considered. Plan your backbone to accommodate the maximum number of connections
anticipated in all telecommunications rooms, equipment rooms, and entrance facilities.
You may want to consider installing extra, unused copper or dark fiber cable for future
needs.
3. Distance. The distance you run your backbone will most likely determine the type(s) of
cable you use.

4. Redundancy and diverse path routing. Consider diverse path routing for mission-critical
systems. This consists of running redundant backbones in separate pathways far from
each other. The redundant cables should never be run in the same conduit. Although they
terminate at the same place, they will follow different routes to get there, such as on
different sides of a building.
5. Useful life. Be aware of the minimum length of time the backbone cabling is expected to
serve. Replacing backbone cable is inconvenient and expensive.
6. Physical environment.
a. EMI. Install copper away from areas of EMI.
b. Physical plant systems. Install away from a buildings physical plant systems,
such as electrical wiring, plumbing, and sprinklers. Do not install backbone cable
in elevator shafts.
c. Environment. Air spaces should be examined for dampness, which can corrode
copper cable. In addition, take into account all pathway standards and
requirements.
d. Fire resistance. Pay attention to all fire regulations.
e. Security. Make sure your backbone cable and all equipment and
telecommunications rooms are inaccessible to unauthorized personnel.
Backbone Topology

The recommended topology is a conventional hierarchical star where all the wiring radiates from
a central location called the main cross-connect. Each telecommunications room or equipment
room is cabled to the main cross-connect either directly or via an intermediate cross-connect. A

benefit of this topology is that it provides damage control. If a cable goes out, only that segment
is involved. Others are unaffected.
Here are some backbone cabling recommendations:
The backbone system shall be installed in a hierarchical star topology.
From the horizontal cross-connect, there shall be no more than one additional crossconnect to reach the main cross-connect.
There should be no more than two levels of backbone cross-connects.
There shall be no bridged taps and splitters.
Make sure you meet all grounding requirements.
Recognized Media
The cable you choose depends on your application and distance requirements. Fiber and
copper cables have different characteristics that may make one more suitable for a particular
application over the other. You may even use a combination of the two. For instance, you can use
fiber to connect runs between buildings and for the vertical riser within a building. But you may
decide to use copper for the second level backbone connecting the intermediate cross-connects to
the horizontal cross-connects.
Recognized cables include:
4-pair, 100-ohm twisted-pair cable (TIA/EIA-568-B.2).
50- or 62.5-micron multimode fiber optic cable (TIA/EIA-568-B.3).
Single-mode fiber optic cable (TIA/EIA-568-B.3).
Maximum Distance
Backbone cable distances depend on the application as well as the cable used.

Equipment Room
The equipment room (ER) houses telecommunications systems, such as PBXs, servers,
routers, switches, and other core electronic components as well as the mechanical terminations.
Its different than the telecommunications room because of the complexity of the components.
An equipment room may take the place of a telecommunications room or it may be separate. It
can also function as the entrance facility. The equipment room is specified in TIA/EIA-568-B.

Design Considerations
Each building should contain at least one equipment room or telecommunications room.
Only install equipment related to the telecommunications system.
Consider future expansion when sizing and placing the equipment room.
Design the door to accommodate the delivery of large enclosures and equipment. The
door should be a minimum of 910 mm (35.8 in.) wide and 2000 mm (78.7 in.) high. A
double door without a center post is best.
The minimum ceiling height shall be 2.4 meters (7.8 ft.).
The minimum recommended size is 14 m2 (150.7 ft.2).
The room should have conditioned power and backup power.
Protect against vibration, EMI, contaminants, and pollutants. The room should not be
near mechanical rooms, electrical distribution panels, and wet/dirty areas.
Take into account any water infiltration issues. Do not locate the room below water level.
Like the telecommunications room, provide 24/7/365 HVAC. Temperature and humidity
should be controlled.
The lighting should be the same as the TR: 500 lux (50 foot candles).
The floor loading should be a minimum of 4.8 kPa (100 lbf/ft2).

Entrance Facility
The entrance facility (EF) is the point where the outdoor plant cable connects with the
buildings backbone cabling. This is usually the demarcation point between the service provider
and the customer owned systems.
It includes:
Cables.
Connecting hardware.
Protection devices.
Design Considerations
The entrance facility may also house the backbone links to other buildings in a campus.
Public network interface equipment and telecommunications equipment may be in the
entrance facility.
The location should be a dry area, near the vertical backbone pathways.
The entrance facility should be provisioned as the telecommunications room is for
environment, HVAC, lighting, doors, electrical power, etc.
Pathways

Simply put, a pathway is the space in which cable runs from one area to another. The
standard TIA/EIA-569-B: Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and
Spaces defines different types of pathways, such as interbuilding, intrabuilding, horizontal,
service entry, etc.
Intrabuilding Backbone Pathways
Intrabuilding backbone pathways run vertically and horizontally between the entrance
facilities, equipment room, and telecommunications room(s). They carry the backbone cable and
can be conduit, sleeves, slots, or cable trays.
Vertical backbone pathways.
Horizontal backbone pathways.
Horizontal Pathways
As the name suggests, these pathways run horizontally between the telecommunications
room and the work area. You can choose a number of different pathways, depending on your
facility, office layout, and cable type. When choosing, keep in mind the pathway fill for current
and future use, and allow enough room for growth.
Pathway Options
Underfloor duct. These are a system of single- or dual-level, rectangular ducts embedded
in concrete flooring thats at least 64-mm (2.5-in.) or 100-mm (3.9 in.) deep, respectively.
Flush duct. This is a single-level, rectangular duct embedded flush with the top level of a
25-mm (1-in.) concrete surface.
Multichannel raceway. Ducts have separate channels for running telecommunications and
power cable. The raceways are designed to be buried in 75-mm (3-in.) reinforced
concrete.
Cellular floor. These are preformed, steel-lined cells buried in 75-mm (3-in.) reinforced
concrete. They come with preset fittings and large capacity header ducts.
Trench duct. This solid tray has compartments and a flat top, and is embedded flush with
the concrete.
Access floor. This consists of modular floor panels supported by pedestals. Its commonly
used in computer and equipment rooms.
Conduit. There are different types of conduit: metallic tubing, rigid metal, and rigid PVC.
Conduit must meet the appropriate electrical codes. It should not be longer than 30
meters (98.4 ft.) nor contain more than two 90-degree bends between pull points.
Cable trays. Options include prefabricated channel, ladder, solid bottom, ventilated, and
wire trays. Trays can be located above or below the ceiling.
Ceiling pathways. This is one of the most popular methods of routing cable. Bundled
cables run on J-hooks suspended above a plenum ceiling. The cables are then fanned out

through the walls, support columns, or power poles to the work area outlet. Cables must
be supported and must not be run directly on the ceiling tiles.
Perimeter raceways. These include plastic or metal surface, recessed, multichannel, and
molded raceways. Use them in areas where devices can be reached from the walls at
convenient levels. Fill capacity should be no more than 2040%, depending on the cable.

HORIZONTAL CABLING

Planning horizontal cabling

The horizontal cabling system encompasses everything between the telecommunications
room crossconnects to the outlets in the work area. Its specified in TIA/EIA-568-B.1 and
includes:

Horizontal cabling.
Telecommunications outlets.
Telecommunications connectors.
Cross-connects.
Patch cords.
Consolidation point (if any).

Most of the cables in your building will be part of the horizontal cabling system. These
can include your voice, data, multimedia, security, HVAC, PoE, wireless, and other systems.
After a building is constructed, the horizontal cabling system is subject to the most activity in
terms of users, locations, changes in building layouts, and more. But the horizontal cable is much
less accessible than the backbone cable. To change the horizontal cabling after installation can be

very expensive, time-consuming, and disruptive. Plan carefully because the horizontal cabling is
extremely important to the design and effectiveness of your cabling system.
Horizontal cabling considerations
Change. Plan for it. Accept the fact that after your system is up, most of the work will be
MACs. You should be able to relocate users and equipment without changing the cable or
disrupting users. Run cable to all areas of the building, even if theyre vacant. When expansion
occurs, youll be ready.
Maintenance. Set up your system so that it facilitates on-going maintenance.
Equipment. Satisfy current network requirements, but consider future equipment changes,
too.
Applications. Consider your current applications while planning for more bandwidthintensive applications in the future.
User work areas. Dont be surprised if your organization decides to change its floor plan
frequently. Just be prepared.
Keeping up appearances. To maintain a neat office, horizontal cabling should never be
visible. There are many installation methods, including raised access floor, conduit, cable trays,
ceiling pathways, raceways, and perimeter pathways.
Physical layouts. Consider how and where youre going to run cable. Do you have
enough space to accommodate bend radius and fill ratios? What are fire and building code
regulations? Are there physical barriers or environmental factors, such as seismic planning or
water levels? You get the idea.
Documentation. Plan on thoroughly labeling and documenting all connections in the
telecommunications room and at the workstation outlet.
EMI. Take into account any areas of high EMI, such as near elevators, motors, and other
equipment.
Horizontal topology
The following are highlights of the TIA/EIA-568B.1 specifications.

The horizontal system shall (remember that shall means required) be installed
in a star topology.
Each work-area telecommunications outlet shall be connected to the horizontal
cross-connect in the telecommunications room.
The telecommunications room should be on the same floor as the work area.
Bridge taps and splices shall not be installed for copper cable.
No more than one transition point or consolidation point shall be installed. (The
exception comes later.)

Electrical components shall not be installed as part of the horizontal cabling. No

applicationspecific components can go there either. They can go next to the
outlets or cross-connects.
A minimum of two telecommunications outlets shall be installed for each work
area. One should be at least CAT3 or higher for voice. The other should be CAT5e
or higher for data. You can add more if you want.

Maximum horizontal distances

Horizontal run: 90 meters (295.3 ft.) from the telecommunications outlet to the
horizontal cross-connect.
Work-area patch cord: 5 meters (16.4 ft.).
Total of work-area and cross-connect patch cords, equipment cables, jumpers, etc: 10
meters (32.8 ft.).

Recognized media
Cables

You can use these cables individually or in combination.

4-pair, 100-ohm UTP or ScTP cable (24 AWG, solid conductors) (EIA/TIA-568B.2).
2-fiber (or more) 50- and 62.5-micron fiber optic cable (EIA/TIA-568-B.3).
150-ohm shielded twisted-pair cable is recognized, but not recommended.

Hybrid cables (multiple cable types in one sheath) are allowed, provided each individual
cable is recognized and meets the transmission and colorcoding requirements for that cable. For
copper horizontal runs, use solid-conductor cable. Use stranded conductor cable for the patch
cords. Make sure your cables are marked with the correct performance category. And match
performance categories of the channel equipment, such as jacks, patch cords, patch panels, etc.
This ensures category performance.

Connectors

8-position modular jack and plug with T568A or T568B pinning.

SC and ST fiber connectors.
Small form-factor fiber connectors.

Open office cabling

If you have an open office with lots of modular furniture and anticipate lots of MACs, the
TIA has specified two horizontal cabling configurations for you: the MUTOA and the
Consolidation Point. Both will enable you to keep your horizontal cabling intact when your open
office layout is changed.
Open office cabling is the only exception youll find to the 5-meter rule for work area
cables.

MUTOA (Multiuser Telecommunications Outlet Assembly)

The MUTOA enables the terminations of multiple horizontal cables in a common,

permanent location, such as a column, wall, or permanent furniture, close to a cluster of work
areas. Guidelines include:

Locate multi-user telecommunications outlets in a permanent location.

Multi-user telecommunications outlets shall not be installed in the ceiling.
The maximum cable length is 20 meters (65.6 ft.).
A maximum of 12 work areas can be served.
Uniquely identify work area cables on each end.

Consolidation point

The Consolidation Point (CP) is a straight-through interconnection point in the

horizontal cabling. It provides another option for open office cabling and is ideal for work areas
that are frequently reconfigured, but not as frequently as a MUTOA. Specifications include:

Only one CP is allowed per horizontal run between the work area and
telecommunications room. Cross-connection between the cables is not allowed.

A CP should not be more than 15 meters (49.2 ft.) from the telecommunications
room.
A CP can serve a maximum of 12 work areas.

Centralized fiber optic cabling

Centralized fiber optic cabling, Annex A to the TIA/EIA-568-B.1, gives you
recommendations for designing a fiber-to-the-desktop system. It centralizes the fiber electronics
instead of using electronics on different floors. Recommendations include:

To connect the fiber from the work area to the equipment room, you can use either
a splice or interconnect in the telecommunications room.
The distance for the total channel is 300 meters (984.3 ft.), including the
horizontal, intrabuilding backbone, and patch cords.
Fiber can be pulled through the telecommunications room. The distance is limited
to 90 meters (295.3 ft.).
Cable can be 50- or 62.5-micron fiber.
Allow for slack and sufficient space for the addition and removal of cable, and
conversion to a full cross-connect system.

WORK AREA

The work area consists of all the components between the telecommunications outlet and
the users desktop workstation equipment. This covers:

Telecommunications outlets, including wallplates, faceplates, surface-mount

boxes, etc.
Patch cables.
Adapters, including connectors, and modular jacks.
Workstation equipment, such as PCs, telephones, printers, etc. although they
arent included in the standard.

The work area should be well managed even though it is designed for frequent changes.
There are a few specific recommendations in TIA/EIA-568-B.1:

You should install a minimum of two telecommunications outlets in each work

area.
o The first outlet shall be a 100-ohm, 8-position modular jack, CAT3 or
higher. Its very advisable to use CAT5e or higher.
o The second outlet can be another 100-ohm, 8-position modular jack
(minimum CAT5e or CAT6), or...
o A 2-fiber, 62.5- or 50-micron fiber SC, ST, or other small-form factor
duplex fiber connector.

UTP wiring should follow T568A or T568B schemes.

The 4-pair UTP patch cable from the telecommunications outlet to the
workstation equipment should be no more than 5 meters (16.4 ft.).
Make sure the equipment cords, patch cables, and modular jacks all have the same
performance rating.
Follow standard installation practices and maintain proper pair twists, bend
radius, etc.
Use different pathways for electrical wiring and structured cabling. Estimate
pathway capacity at 2040% fill.
Run an independent pathway to control centers, reception areas, and other highactivity spaces.
An electrical outlet should be installed within 3 feet (9.1 m) and at the same
height.

T568A and T568B pinning

There are two approved pinning methods: T568A and T568B. The
T568A scheme is the one recognized and used by the U.S. government. The
T568A pinning is also common in Canada and in other parts of the world.
The T568B pinning is the one used by AT&T and is the de facto standard
in the U.S. By the way, the T stands for termination, and not TIA as
commonly thought. Whichever scheme you choose, stick to it. All pin/pair
assignments must conform to one standard or the other. Mixing the two can
cause crossed pairs, which just doesnt work. In addition, you must follow
established telecommunications cabling color schemes.
Telecommunications Room

Formerly known as the telecommunications closet, the telecommunications room (TR) houses all
the equipment associated with connecting the backbone wiring to the horizontal wiring. It
includes:
Intermediate cross-connects
Main cross-connects
Patch cords
All connecting equipment
The telecommunications room can also house auxiliary equipment such as a PBX, security
equipment, etc.

Design specifications
The telecommunications room is addressed in TIA/EIA-568-B.1. The complete design and
provisioning recommendations is in TIA/EIA-569-B.
If youre terminating less than 100 meters of cable, you can use an interconnection. As
the number of connections grows, use cross-connects for better cable management.
Place the telecommunications room as close as possible to the center of the floor.
Do not share the telecommunications room with electrical equipment.
Depending on the size of the floor area, you should have at least one telecommunications
room per floor. The recommendation is one TR per 10 m2 (100 ft.2 ).

 If the floor area is greater than 1000 m 2 (10,763 ft. 2 ), or if the distance to the work area
exceeds 300 feet, there should be additional telecommunications rooms per floor.
When there are multiple telecommunications rooms on a floor, interconnect them with at
least one trade size 3 conduit.
Specific room sizes are recommended based on floor-area size. These will provide
sufficient space for all connecting hardware, as well as enough room for technicians to
work comfortably.

Be aware of any seismic zone requirements.

Typical Layout for a Telecommunications Room:

Requirements for a Telecommunications Room:

At least two walls must be covered in 2.6-meter (8.5-ft.) high, 200-mm (3 4 in.) thick A
C plywood capable of supporting equipment.
Do not install a false ceiling.
Lighting should supply at least 500-foot candles (540 lux) of illumination.
Walls, floor, and ceiling should be light colored to enhance lighting.
HVAC equipment should provide continuous 24/7/365 service.
Fire protection should be provided. The door should be at least 910-mm (35.8-in.) wide
and 2000 millimeters (78.75 in.) high. It should be hinged, sliding, or removable, and
have a lock.

 The minimum floor loading should be at least 2.4 kPa (50lbf/ft2 ).

Install at least two dedicated duplex electrical outlets on separate circuits. If necessary,
additional duplex outlets can be placed at 1.8 meters (5.9 ft.) around the room.
INSTALLATION AND TESTING
Cable installation practices
You can invest in the best cable and hardware, but if theyre not installed properly, they
wont work, or at least they wont work well. Protect your investment and follow the guidelines
as outlined in TIA/EIA-568-B.1. The most important practices involve:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Cable pair twists.

Bend radius.
Tension.
Cinching.
Connecting hardware.

There are others, but if you do nothing else, mind these.

Cable pair twists
This is the most important guideline you
can follow for twisted-pair cable. The pair twists
are responsible for much of cables performance.
If you lose the twists, you lose performance.
Remember this. When terminating CAT5e or
higher, maintain pair twists to within 13 mm (0.5
in.) from the point of termination. And remove as
little of the sheath as possible.
Bend radius
Next on your installation to-do list is bend radius. If you bend twisted-pair cable too
much, you loosen the twists, and yes, lose performance. The following bend radii are under noload conditions:
UTP horizontal. 4 times the cable diameter.
ScTP horizontal. 8 times the cable diameter.
Multipair backbone. 10 times the cable diameter.

2- and 4-fiber horizontal. Not less than 25

mm (0.98 in.).
Fiber backbone: Not less than 10 times the
cable diameter, or as recommended by the
manufacturer.
Even though there is no standard at this time
for patch cable bend radius, be aware of that, too.
Tension
Too much tension will give you a headache.
UTP. To avoid stretching, pulling tension should not exceed 110 N (25 lb/ft.). Pulling too
hard untwists the pairs, and you know what that does. Use supports and trays in cable runs to
minimize sagging, which pulls on the pairs and degrades performance.
2- and 4-fiber horizontal: The maximum tensile load is 222 N (50 lb/ft.).
Cinching
Take care not to cinch cable bundles tightly, which causes stress and degrades
performance. Tie cable bundles loosely. And never ever staple cables.
Connecting hardware
Twisted pair. It may seem obvious, but use connecting hardware of the same category or
higher. The transmission of your components will always be the lowest category in the link. So,
if youre using CAT6 cable, use CAT6 connectors.
Fiber. Fiber is much more difficult to terminate in the field than copper cable. If you have
a poor fiber polish and alignment, youll lose a great deal of performance. Rather than field
polishing the termination, use pre-polished connectors.
Miscellaneous considerations.

Visually inspect the cable installation for proper terminations, bend radius, tension, etc.
Dont uncoil UTP on a spool. It can cause kinks and NEXT failures. Rotate the spool
instead.
Plan for 12 inches of slack cable behind wall outlets for possible future reterminations.
As always, avoid EMI. And dont run UTP cable over fluorescent lights, etc.

Cable testing
Once you install your structured cabling infrastructure, you have to test its performance.
Just because you bought the best materials and followed all the installation recommendations, it

doesnt mean your system is going to work flawlessly. Transmission performance depends on a
number of factors:

Cable characteristics
Connecting hardware
Patch cords and cross-connect wiring
Number of connections
Installation practices

Specific performance requirements are listed in TIA/EIA-568-B.2 for balanced twistedpair cable and TIA/EIA-568-B.3 for fiber optic cable.
Field testing copper
There are two ways to check a copper cabling system: channel tests and permanent link
tests.

Channel. This provides the most reliable results for actual transmission performance.
Channel tests are performed after all the telecommunications equipment is in place. The channel
includes:

Horizontal cable, up to 90 meters (295.3 ft.)

Work area patch cord, up to 5 meters (16.4 ft.)
Work area telecommunications outlet connector
Optional consolidation point connection
Two TR patch cord connections

The total length of the channel must not exceed 100 meters (328 ft.). The total length of
equipment, patch, and work area cords must not exceed 10 meters (33 ft.).
Many manufacturers now have their channels pre-tested and verified by independent
laboratories, such as ETL Semko.

Permanent link test. This test provides installers and technicians with a method of
verifying the performance of the permanently installed cable, minus any patch cord connections.
It measures performance before any telecommunications room equipment or office furniture is
installed, and is not as accurate as the channel test. The permanent link includes:

Horizontal cable, up to 90 meters (295.3 ft.)

Two connections, one at each end
An optional consolidation point connection

Copper test parameters

The primary copper test parameters are:

Wire map
Return loss
Length
Propagation delay
Insertion loss
Delay skew
Near-end crosstalk (NEXT)
Power-sum near-end crosstalk (PS-NEXT)
Equal-level far-end crosstalk (EL-FEXT)
Power-sum equal-level far-end crosstalk (PS-ELFEXT)

Copper testers
If all these tests seem a little overwhelming, they are. But theres helpprofessional
technicians and professional-grade test equipment. Trained technicians know how to use the

advanced Level III and IV equipment that

automatically tests, calculates, and
certifies your copper cable links in
accordance with TIA and ISO standards.
Level III equipment is designed for
measurements to 250 MHz. Level IV
testers certify accuracy up to 600 MHz.
Manufacturers of test equipment are
conforming to the changes in standards
with firmware updates.
The results of the tests will tell
you if your system meets all the
applicable performance standards. If
there are problems, the technicians and
the equipment can help isolate the
problem. Better yet, the equipment saves
all the test results for downloading and
proper documentation.
10-GbE considerations.
In June 2006, the IEEE approved
the standard for 10-Gbps Ethernet, or
10GBASE-T
(10-GbE).
10-GbE
transmission requires a bandwidth of 500
MHz. The industry is using two different
cables for 10-GbE applications: Category
6 (CAT6) cable and Augmented Category 6 (CAT6a).

Alien crosstalk
Before discussing how to test CAT6 and CAT6a in 10-GbE, a definition of alien crosstalk
is needed. Alien crosstalk (ANEXT) is a critical measurement unique to 10-GbE systems.
Crosstalk, measured in 10/100/1000BASE-T systems, is the mixing of signals between wire pairs
within a cable. Alien crosstalk is the measurement of the signal coupling between wire pairs in
different, adjacent cables. The amount of ANEXT depends on a number of factors, including the
proximity of adjacent cables and connectors, cable length, cable twist density, and EMI. Patch
panels and connecting hardware are also affected by ANEXT. With ANEXT, the affected cable is
called the disturbed, or victim, cable. The surrounding cables are the disturbers.
10-GbE over CAT6
CAT6 cable must meet 10-GbE electrical and ANEXT specifications up to 500 MHz.
However, as of mid 2007, the CAT6 standard specifies measurements only to 250 MHz and does

not specify an ANEXT requirement. There is no guarantee CAT6 can support a 10-GbE system.
But the TIA TSB-155, ISO/IEC 24750, and IEEE 802.3an all characterize 10GBASE-T over
UTP cabling. The TSB provides guidelines for ways to help mitigate ANEXT. One way to lessen
or completely eliminate ANEXT is to use shielded equipment and cables such as Black Boxs
S/FTP or F/UTP cables (see blackbox.com). Another way is to follow mitigation guidelines, such
as using non-adjacent patch panels, separating equipment cords, unbundling cabling, etc.
10-GbE over CAT6a
Augmented Category 6 (CAT6a) and Augmented Class E (Class EA) cabling are
designed to support 10-GbE over a 100-meter horizontal channel. The TIA/EIA-568B.2-AD10
(draft) extends CAT6 electrical parameters such as NEXT, FEXT, return loss, insertion loss, and
more to 500 MHz. The CAT6a draft specifies near- and far-end alien crosstalk (ANEXT,
AFEXT) to 500 MHz for closely bundled six around one cable configurations. It also goes
beyond IEEE 802.3an by establishing the electrical requirements for the permanent link and
cabling components. The ISO Class EA standard will be published in a new edition of the 11801
standard. These standards specify requirements for each component in the channel, such as cable
and connecting hardware, as well as for the permanent link and the channel.
Testing 10-GbE
Field certification for 10-GbE consists of two phases. The first is to certify the
transmission capability and quality of each individual link. The 10-GbE test limits are identical
to CAT6 and ISO 11801, but the frequency range is extended from 250 MHz to 500 MHz. The
parameters are insertion loss, return loss, pair-to-pair near-end crosstalk (NEXT), powersum
NEXT, pair-to-pair equal-level far-end crosstalk (ELFEXT), Power-Sum ELFEXT (PSELFEXT), propagation delay, length, delay skew, and wire map. The second phase is to field
certify the cabling system for compliance with alien crosstalk (ANEXT) requirements, which are
the between-channel parameters. This should include sample testing of some links in a bundle to
verify compliance.

Measuring ANEXT
Typically in a laboratory, measuring power sum alien near-end crosstalk (PS-ANEXT)
and power-sum alien far-end crosstalk (PS-AFEXT) is based on cables in a six-round-one
configuration. The central cable is the victim cable, and all the adjacent cables are the disturbers.
This test configuration provides a worst case scenario. A total of seven equal length links are
connected to each other at previously defined distances. Every circuit is measured against the
other so there are 96 individual measurements. At this point, it's not possible to test all wire-pair
combinations in the field for ANEXT. One strategy is to use a sampling technique to select a
limited number of links for testing. The chosen links should be those most likely to fail, such as
the longest links, or shorter links with the shortest distance between connectors. Limit testing to
links that are bundled together.
Field testing fiber

Compared to copper, fiber optic cable is relatively simple to test. Basically, you shine a
light down the cable and measure how much arrives on the other end. Thats attenuation, and its
the performance parameter used for fiber testing. Unfortunately, attenuation can be affected by
the installation, but its easily tested in the field. The typical fiber test link includes: Fiber cable
(horizontal or backbone, depending on application) Telecommunications outlet connector
Consolidation points, if any When testing fiber, each individual link segment in both the
horizontal and backbone runs must be tested. Each segment is allowed a budget loss. Then, the
total link insertion loss is the sum of the individual link segment losses. The performance
standards for fiber optic cable are listed in the chart on page 12.
Fiber testers
Dont worry about trying to test your fiber system yourself. Again, there are professional
technicians who know how to use advanced fiber test equipment, which includes a power meter
and a light source. Very advanced equipment can test different wavelengths, in both directions,
eliminating a lot of legwork for either you or a professional technician. These testers, like their
copper counterparts, automatically calculate all test results and save them for future downloading
and documentation.

DESIGN:

Location Map

Symbols

Piping and Cable Tray Layout

Port Layout

Isometric Tray

Mounting Details

Rack Layout

Server Room